The Air Self-Defense Force announced next month that it will conduct joint exercises with the Indian Air Force for the first time in Japan.
It seems that the aim is to strengthen cooperation with China in mind, which is strengthening its maritime expansion.
The joint training will be held from the 16th to 26th of next month near Hyakuri Air Base in Ibaraki Prefecture, with the participation of four Air Self-Defense Force F2 and F15 fighter jets and four Indian Air Force Suhoi 30 fighter jets. That's it.
It is the first time for the Air Self-Defense Force to conduct joint training with the Indian Air Force in Japan, and they hope to strengthen cooperation through training.
The four countries, including Japan and India, plus the United States and Australia, are promoting cooperation in various fields such as security in a framework called "quad" with China intensifying its maritime expansion. At the summit meeting held in May between Prime Minister Kishida and Indian Prime Minister Modi, they agreed to proceed with coordination toward the early implementation of joint fighter training.
It is the fifth country, following the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Germany, that the Self-Defense Forces will conduct joint training with fighters from other countries in Japan.